Marlin Model 1894
Marlin Firearms · Rifle · In Production · 1894
Also known as: Marlin 1894, Model 1894
Overview
The Marlin Model 1894 is a pistol-caliber lever-action rifle originally designed by John Marlin in 1894 and historically chambered in cartridges like .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40. The modern short-action .44 Magnum version was reintroduced in 1969 and remains one of the most popular brush-country and pistol-caliber lever guns in America. Currently produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. since acquiring Marlin assets, the Ruger-made 1894 features a cold-hammer-forged blued steel barrel with Ballard-style rifling, a side loading gate, an exposed hammer with cross-bolt safety, a straight-grip American walnut stock, and a 10-round tubular magazine in .44 Magnum.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2980 g (105.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 914 mm (35.98") |
| Barrel Length | 508 mm (20.00") |
| Action Type | Lever Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tube |
| Muzzle Velocity | 545 m/s (1788 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2300 J (1696 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1800 m (1968 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 508 mm (20.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Remington Magnum · primary — also known as .44 Magnum, .44 Mag
- .357 Magnum — also known as .357 S&W Magnum, .357 Mag
- .45 Colt — also known as .45 Long Colt, .45 LC
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Cross Bolt Safety, Hammer Block, Half Cock Notch
- Features: Side Loading Gate, Tubular Magazine, Exposed Hammer, Drilled And Tapped Receiver, Straight Grip Walnut Stock, Ballard Rifling
Variants
- Marlin 1894 Classic — Standard
- Marlin 1894 Trapper — Short Barrel
- Marlin 1894 Cowboy — Octagon Barrel
Production
Production years: 1894-2007, 2009-2020, 2023-present
Long, interrupted production history under Marlin then Remington-owned Marlin (2009-2020); reintroduced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. in 2023
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: John Mahlon Marlin
Notes
Production resumed under Ruger ownership in 2023 after Remington's bankruptcy. The 1894 platform is exceptionally popular for cowboy action shooting and as a companion long gun to revolvers in matching chamberings.
Background
The 1894 was John Marlin's answer to Winchester's 1873 - a slim, fast-cycling lever rifle that paired perfectly with a six-gun. When Ruger reintroduced the rifle in 2023, gun shops sold out within hours, with collectors paying double MSRP on the secondary market for first-year Ruger-built examples.